How to Use Graphite in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Graphite is a code review and pull-request workflow platform for engineering teams, combining a stacked-diff CLI with an AI reviewer (Graphite Agent) that gives codebase-aware feedback on pull requests to speed up review cycles and merges.
What It Does
Graphite started as a tool for "stacked" pull requests — breaking large changes into a sequence of small, dependent PRs that are easier to review. It has since expanded into a broader code review platform, adding an AI reviewer (Graphite Agent) that reads a pull request in the context of the surrounding codebase and leaves automated comments, alongside merge queue and automation features aimed at reducing time-to-merge.
Key Features
- Stacked pull requests: A CLI and VS Code extension for splitting large changes into small, reviewable, dependent PRs.
- AI code review: Automated, codebase-aware review comments on pull requests.
- Merge queue: Automates merge ordering and conflict handling.
- GitHub integration: Works as a layer on top of existing GitHub repositories.
- AI chat: Ask questions about a pull request or codebase in context.
Who It's For
Professional software engineering teams, particularly those shipping frequently and looking to reduce PR review latency.
Limitations
Paid plans are priced per user per month. The stacked-PR model is a workflow change some teams may resist. AI review comments can produce false positives and still require human review for architecture or business logic.
What You'll Need
- A Graphite account (free to create)
- A modern web browser or the Graphite app
- Payment method for paid features
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Visit https://graphite.com and sign up for a freemium account. You'll need an email address to register. A free tier is available — you can upgrade later for more features.
Start Your First Conversation
Once logged in, you'll see the main chat interface. Type a question or task in the input box and press Enter. Graphite supports text, code — start with a simple text prompt to get familiar.
Natural Language Chat
Type your question or task in natural language. Graphite excels at understanding context and providing helpful, detailed responses.
Code Assistance
For coding help, paste your code or describe your problem: 'Here's my function, why isn't it working?' You can ask for explanations, debugging, or new code generation.
Pro Tips
- Be specific: The more context you provide, the better the response. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks."
- Iterate: If you don't get what you need, ask for clarification or refinement: "Make it shorter" or "Use a more formal tone."
- Use examples: Show Graphite what format you want by including an example in your prompt.
- Share context: When asking for code help, include your programming language, framework, and what you're trying to accomplish.
- Save useful conversations: Most platforms let you name and revisit conversations — organize by project or topic.
Common Use Cases
Programming & Code
AI assistants focused on writing, debugging, and explaining code across programming languages.
Browse Programming & Code chatbots →Troubleshooting
- Responses seem generic or unhelpful
- Add more context to your prompt. Specify the audience, tone, length, and format you need. Try starting over with a clearer description of your goal.
- The tool isn't responding or is slow
- AI chatbots can experience high traffic. Refresh the page and try again. Check the service's status page if issues persist.
- Output is too long or too short
- Explicitly specify the length: "in 100 words," "as a brief summary," or "in detail with examples."
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Graphite free to use?
- Graphite has a free tier. Paid plans start from Free.
- Do I need an account to use Graphite?
- Yes, you need to create an account to use Graphite.
- What can I use Graphite for?
- Graphite is a code review and pull-request workflow platform for engineering teams, combining a stacked-diff CLI with an AI reviewer (Graphite Agent) that gives codebase-aware feedback on pull requests to speed up review cycles and merges.
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